Game.



c. HJBELKNAP.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I0. 1916.

1,276,015. Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

" hl' m CHAR ES. H. IBE NAP, 0F BBOQKL N, Y R

GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A11 20, 1918,

Application filed. March 10, 1916. Serial No. 83,262.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLns H. BELKNAP, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to games or toys; and has for its object the provision of a game-board which enables the players to imitate the scoring in the game of lawn tennis, and to some extent the game itself on a small scale.

To this end I arrange a board upon which the outlines of a tennis court are laid out in any convenient manner; and at appropriate places within the court I print the names of the scoring shots in lawn tennis, each with in an inclosing line. The playing is done with toy rackets, usually of wood and of small size; the ball being represented by counters such as are used in the game of tiddly-winks. I make the board in two parts hinged together, and arranged the net in the middle in such a way that when the board is folded the net is inclosed therein; the opening of the board automatically re storing the net to playing position. The board may be of various sizes, but is preferably of such size that it lies conveniently upon a table. Further details will be explained in the specification.

The accompanying drawings show an embodiment of my invention; therein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the board complete, ready for play; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the board when folded, and upon a larger scale, with the counters relatively enlarged; Figs. 3 and 6 are details of the net supports; Fig. 4 is a plan of one of the counters; and Fig. 5 a similar view of the racket.

In Fig. 1, A is the board, usually made of stiff pasteboard or the like; this is usually in two parts hinged together, but in cheap forms may be in one piece; the hinge is generally made of linen or cotton cloth. It is provided with a surrounding flange or binding-strip A that on one part of the board being just smaller than the one on the other part to permit the first to fit snugly within the second, as shown in Fig. 2, wherein the parts are similarly lettered. In Figs. 3 and 6 the hinge is shown as consisting of two flanges B B the linen or cotton strip being lettered B The board is covered with rubber, cloth or shoddy. With all of these materials I may if preferred print the courtoutlines on paper or cloth and paste the printed sheet over the resilient. materials; these obvious modifications require no illustration, they being well understood by toymakers.

At suitable places on the board I print the names of the scoring shots at tennis; for example, 9 Drive, Cut shot, Ace, Smash, are shown in appropriate positions corresponding to those in which the ball would strike to score in the named manner in the actual game of lawn-tennis; the drive being in a corner near the base line, the ace being a cross-court service striking near the side lines of the service or fore-court, and so on.

The net C is carried upon suitable supports C C generally of wire, as indicated. These are braced in one form of the game with guys 0 0, secured in the middle to the net-supports and the ends to the parts of the board, the supports being hinged or sufliciently flexible at their lower ends to permit the board to fold, and the guys erecting them when the board is opened, the wires being secured to the board by the clip C (see Fig. 3). I may use the form shown in Fig. 6, in which a light spring C presses the wires into an upright position against the flange B of the board; this dispenses with tying the guys to the supports and lowers labor costs.

The counter employed is shown at D in Figs. 2 and i, in the latter of the usual full size, though different sizes may be used; in Fig. 5, E is the racket, E the handle, E the head. The handle has a coat of thin closely adherent enamel suitably colored so as to distinguish the players readily and maintain the order of service, &c.; I have employed liquid celluloid for this purpose with good effect.

At 13 I have shown an added strip of resilient material which may be used if desired to limit the position of service.

The game is played as follows: Four shots are allowed in service, which must cross the net and land in the diagonal court, as in lawn tennis; after the ball strikes it may CIT be returned by the opposite side, unless it strikes in one of the spaces marked Ace, Smash, &c.; the same rule applies. to both sides, all of the court being available after the service. game, with deuce in game and set, as in lawn tennis.

The game will be found to be a good means for cultivating quickness and" accuracy of eye and hand, combining with them delicacy and restraint, since without these it is impossible to play well.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and wish to protect by Letters-Patent of the United States is 1'. As a new article of manufacture, a game-board having a hinge, a net, and supports for the net adjacent to the hinge, the supports mounted to fold when the board is closed, and means for restoring the supports to erect positions when the board is opened.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a game-board having resilient material thereon and marked with the scoring shots oi the game of lawn tennis, the board composed of two parts hinged together, anet, sup- The score is 15, 30, 40,.

ports for the net adjacent to the hinge, the supports being arranged to fold when the board isclosed, and. means for automatically restoring the supports to substantially vertical position when the board is opened.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a game-board having a hinge, a net, supp'orts for the net adjacent to the hinge, the supports arranged to fold when the board is closed, and a spring for restoring the supports to vertical position when the board is opened.

4. A game comprising a board having marked thereon the scoring shots of the game of lawn tennis, a net near the middle of the board, one or more rackets, and a disk or disks to be operated by the racket, as described.

5. A game comprising a board covered with resilient material having marked there on the scoringshots of the game of lawn tennis, a net near the middle of the board, a. racket, and a disk to be operated by the racket.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set Copies of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by'addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington; D. 0." 

